British diplomats to be expelled from Moscow in retaliation, Russian ambassador says - Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs and May’s Commons statement announcing retaliation against Russia after the Russian spy attack

May expels 23 Russian diplomats in response to spy poisoning

In a tongue-in-cheek display of unconcern about May’s actions today, the Russian embassy in London tweeted: “The temperature of Russia-UK relations drops to minus-23, but we are not afraid of cold weather.”

In response to the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, the prime minister today said: “We will continue to bring all the capabilities of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people or their money in our country.”

The anti-corruption group Transparency International is calling for the government to take “serious action” to combat this.

Duncan Hames, director of policy at Transparency International UK, said:

We share the prime minister’s view that there should be no place in the UK for dirty money from overseas, but we are now calling for serious action to make this a reality. Until now corrupt individuals and regimes may well have concluded they can act with impunity in the UK given the ease with which their money has been welcomed into our financial system, property market, luxury goods and other high-end services. We’ve seen the UK become a safe haven for corrupt wealth in which money stolen from people often in the poorest parts of the world is freely spent.

More than a fifth of the £4.4bn worth of UK properties we identified as having been acquired with suspicious wealth was bought by Russians. It is clear that London has routinely been the choice destination for Russians with suspicious wealth to move and they have had little trouble doing so, taking advantage of lax regulation and offshore secrecy. To help combat this the UK needs to accelerate the much delayed plans for a public register of the real owners of overseas companies owning UK property.

Rules around tier 1 investments have tightened since 2015, but we still don’t know who was granted residency before then and it’s imperative that the UK now investigates which individuals, and with what money, were able to gain UK residency under such poor scrutiny.

Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, has told Russia Today that he suspects “President Putin has better things to do” than order assassinations in Britain.

Stephen Daisley (@JournoStephen)

Ken Livingstone on RT agrees that the UK Government's response has been 'premature', says there's Western 'paranoia' about Putin. 'Every country defends its own interests,' he says, arguing that during the Crimea crisis the UK media didn't tell viewers it had been part of Russia. pic.twitter.com/tAxx8UZpZY

There has been speculation that the England football team could boycott this summer’s World Cup in Russia, but the FA has insisted preparations are continuing as normal.

In a series of tweets, a spokesperson for the FA said they were taking travel guidance from the Foreign Office and would work closely with the government regarding England’s participation in both the World Cup and a women’s World Cup qualifier.

FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)

The FA will continue to work closely with the UK Government and relevant authorities regarding our participation in this summer’s FIFA World Cup and the Women’s World Cup qualifier in June.

Our priority for all England matches is to ensure the safety and security of the fans, players and staff. As is standard practice, we will take all travel guidance from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Afternoon summary

Andrew Sparrow

The UK is to expel 23 Russian diplomats, consider new laws to combat spying and look at sanctions as part of a sweeping response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, Theresa May has told parliament.

Jeremy Corbyn came under sustained attack, including from MPs on his own side, over his response to the prime minister’s statement on Russia in which he failed to condemn the Kremlin directly for carrying out the Salisbury attack.

Philip Hammond will need to impose tax rises worth at least £30bn to reach his target of balancing the public finances by 2025, undermining hopes that the chancellor will go into his autumn budget with plenty of spare cash to ease austerity, according to a leading economic thinktank.

The government is not planning to axe 1p and 2p coins, Downing Street has said, after a brief if vehement media campaign against the idea, which had been floated in a Treasury paper released with the spring statement.

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has failed to reach an agreement with Theresa May over what the EU withdrawal bill should say about devolution. But after a meeting in Downing Street she implied a deal was closer than before. These are from the BBC’s Nick Eardley and ITV Border’s Peter MacMahon.

Here is Lawrence Freedman, the historian who was a member of the panel that carried out the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, on WMD comparisons between Salisbury and Iraq. (See 2.04pm and 2.44pm.)

Lawrence Freedman (@LawDavF)

I read ALL the intelligence leading up to Iraq WMD Dossier in 9/2002. it showed the problems in getting invested in an established assessment, not being skeptical enough about new information appearing to confirm worst case, and speculating in the absence of hard evidence. 1/3

I suspect Porton Down already been in touch with relevant international experts but it could well make sense to convene expert panel (perhaps under OPCW auspices) to go through evidence. Allow Russia to be present but pointless to ask it to provide own independent assessment.

In the Commons during Theresa May’s statement, Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, said the government should expose President Putin’s wealth. Tugendhat said:

Could I also ask her if she will use the tools at her disposal to expose the wealth of the Putin family. Three billion dollars (£2.15bn) or more has been stolen from the Russian people by that man. We should expose him for what he is and not be a useful idiot hiding behind legalism of his crimes.

The Russian foreign ministry has tweeted this response to Theresa May.

MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia)

It's absolutely unacceptable & unworthy of British Government to seek to further seriously aggravate relations in pursuit of its unseemly political ends, having announced a whole series of hostile measures,incl. expulsion of 23 #Russian diplomats from #UK.https://t.co/8zs8hEmT3spic.twitter.com/8LddscAMcM

France has said it wants firm proof of Russian involvement in the nerve-toxin poisoning of a Russian double agent in Britain before it takes any action in solidarity with the British government, Reuters reports. The report goes on:

In contrast to German chancellor Angela Merkel and US president Donald Trump who assured British prime minister Theresa May they were taking her government’s views on possible Russian involvement extremely seriously, President Emmanuel Macron and other French officials have declined to mention Russia.

After France initialled condemned the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter and expressed solidarity with Britain on Tuesday, French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux on Wednesday said it was too early for Paris to decide whether action should be taken.

“We don’t do fantasy politics. Once the elements are proven, then the time will come for decisions to be made,” Griveaux told a news conference shortly after May said she was expelling Russian diplomats and suspending bilateral talks.

While he called the attack a “very serious act” on a strategic ally, Griveaux said France was waiting for “definitive conclusions” and evidence that the “facts were completely true” before taking a position.

France’s muted reaction is in contrast with its closest allies, but is in line with Macron’s efforts since coming into office to build a new relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Rather than directly confronting Putin through threats and megaphone diplomacy, he has emphasised private dialogue, while pushing for a restoration of business and cultural ties despite existing European Union sanctions on Moscow.

Diplomats say Macron believes ostracising Moscow will not yield results given its importance on the world stage and role in world crises. Despite obvious differences, he believes it is vital to keep a working relationship going with Russia.

Standing alongside Putin last May at the Chateau de Versailles, Macron heralded the start to a new page in relations after tensions under the previous administration. He said at the time that he wouldn’t let differences over Syria, Ukraine and human rights strain their relationship.

Nearly a year on, there is little evidence to suggest he has gained anything tangible from the alternative approach in terms of foreign policy successes. However, he is due to be the guest of honour at an investor forum in St Petersburg at the end of May where a large French business delegation will also be present.

“France has a policy on Russia that it’s going to stick to. There’s no reason for this to knock that off target,” a French official said. “You’ve got to remember there are pretty close ties between France and Russia, whether around literature, culture and business, and they are important.”

British diplomats to be expelled from Moscow in retaliation, Russian ambassador says

Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian ambassador to the UK, has confirmed that British diplomats will be expelled from Moscow. Asked in an interview with Sky News about what would happen after May’s statement, he said:

There will be expulsions. As you understand in diplomatic practice, there will be answers from the Russian side.

When he was asked to clarify if this meant British diplomats being expelled from Moscow, he replied.

In diplomacy, there is always reciprocity.

He also said that what the UK government was doing was “absolutely unacceptable” and that it should refer the matter to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He said:

We consider these measures made by the British government absolutely unacceptable, and I’ll tell you why. We believe Britain should follow international law. Under obligations under the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, if they have any suspicions on nerve gas or something like that, they have to make an application to the organisation and make a request. And, so far, we did not get any samples.

The UK government’s response has been that, while it has the option of taking the case to the OPCW, it is under no obligation to do so.

The Labour MP Chuka Umunna has criticised Seumas Milne, Jeremy Corbyn’s strategy and communications director, for what he said in his briefing earlier (see 2.04pm and 2.44pm) about the case against Russia being unproven.

Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna)

Have read the comments of the Leader of the Opposition’s spokesperson. Mr Milne’s comments do not represent the views of the majority of our voters, members or MPs. We’ll get abuse for saying so but where British lives have been put at risk it is important to be clear about this.

I understand that Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman Seumas Milne has claimed there is no proof that Russia is behind the nerve gas attack in Salisbury. Well Seumas has form on these matters. https://t.co/faCqVNmWjR

No 10 backs away from plan to get rid of 1p and 2p coins

Turning away from Russia for a moment, Downing Street has signalled that 1p and 2p coins will not be abolished after all, the BBC’s Alex Forsyth reports.

Alex Forsyth (@AlexForsythBBC)

In other news No10 signals pennies are safe. The PM's spokesman said the consultation was intended to help the Govt better understand the role of cash & digital payments in the economy & whether the mix of coins meets public need - and from early reaction it looks like it does

According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, some Labour MPs have signed a draft early day motion saying they “unequivocally” accept that Russia was to blame for the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Sixteen MPs seem to have signed it already.

Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak)

Motion being scrambled by Labour MPs to back PMs view that Russia definitely culpable - taking v different line to Corbyn pic.twitter.com/XdfmkiGtCK

Kuenssberg also says some Labour frontbenchers could resign in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s refusal to accept Russia was to blame. (See 3.35pm.)

Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak)

Rumour that some Labour shadow front benchers might resign over the leader's statement today - let's wait and see - certainly a lot of anger around - uneasy truce in Labour party since election has been trashed by different instincts over Skripal case

Foreign Office updates its travel advice for Russia

Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time. If you’re currently in Russia or due to travel in the coming weeks, you’re advised to remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.

While the British embassy in Moscow is not aware of any increased difficulties for British people travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice. You may wish to sign up for our email alerts to be notified of any updates.